truthful mechanic?

[boatpal]

My 2000 115hp Johnson started running rough and I was able to keep it going for a while by squeezing the primer bulb, finally had to use the kicker to get back to the dock. My mechanic told me that a cylinder went bad and the VRO sensor on that cylinder caused the VRO system to stop sending any oil and the result is a ruined powerhead.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: truthful mechanic?

Unless your motor is a Ficht, oil from the OMS (no VRO for your model year) is not called for or directed by/from a specific cylinder, it's just mixed with the gas proportional to gas flow. An oil failure doesn't discriminate ... it affects all cylinders equally. Sounds like you had a fuel pump problem, but with the OMS pump system, oil and gas are independent, although in the same pump housing.

If it's a Ficht, oil is not mixed with the gas, but injected into specific places, and could cause the loss of a single cylinder. In any case, no VRO (nor OMS) on this one at all.

How does the 'mechanic' know a cylinder is bad? Did he check the compression all around? At worst, the 'mechanic' didn't know what he was talking about if you have represented what he said accurately. I would be inclined to get another opinion from a different shop.

Even though the Ficht V4's were OK, the Ficht has such a bad reputation in the market, repair may be questionable, since resale value of all is not too good.

 

[cougar1985]

Re: truthful mechanic?

his motor should be a ficht.they started making them in 1997 though the majority of problems were assoiated with 150-175 hp models.read a interesting artical that said that the main problem was that they operated under heavy load at low rpms which created soot which in turn acted like sos on the cylinders.

 

[boatpal]

Re: truthful mechanic?

What is a Ficht? The motor says Johnson all over it. What should the compression be? The mechanic said he did a compression bleed-off test to determine the powerhead was lunched, why would the bleed-off rate be a factor?

 

[Dhadley]

Re: truthful mechanic?

Gonna have to say your doubts are probably well founded. First find a tech who is well schooled in E/J motors. As stated your motor doesn't even have a VRO so he's way off base to start with. Your Johnson should be a typical 2 stroke carb'd 60 degree V4. Very good motor.

He says he did a compression test but he's describing a leak down test. Do both but get someone else to do it. Or simply do a compression test yourself.

Yes, the OMS pump is powered by the piston action on one cylinder. No, there is no sensor that tells the pump to shut down while the motor is / keeps running. There are sensors that tell the pump to deliver more oil, not less, under given circumstances.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: truthful mechanic?

My 2000 115hp Johnson started running rough and I was able to keep it going for a while by squeezing the primer bulb, finally had to use the kicker to get back to the dock. My mechanic told me that a cylinder went bad and the VRO sensor on that cylinder caused the VRO system to stop sending any oil and the result is a ruined powerhead.

Find another mechanic or check it out yourself.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: truthful mechanic?

What is a Ficht? The motor says Johnson all over it. What should the compression be? The mechanic said he did a compression bleed-off test to determine the powerhead was lunched, why would the bleed-off rate be a factor?

Ficht was OMC's first venture into DI (Direct Injection) motors ... pretty apparent if the cover is off ... they don't have carburetors.

 

[marinemech1]

Re: truthful mechanic?

Gonna have to say your doubts are probably well founded. First find a tech who is well schooled in E/J motors. As stated your motor doesn't even have a VRO so he's way off base to start with. Your Johnson should be a typical 2 stroke carb'd 60 degree V4. Very good motor.

From D. Hadley agree fully this guy is feeding you B.S.
Wayne

 

[boatpal]

Re: truthful mechanic?

Your replies have been very helpful. This guy charged me $200 a hole to rebuild the carbs and quoted replacement of the water pump for the same amount. I did the water pump myself and the first time out, hot alarm, shut it down immediately and found out I'd left out the grommet between the water pump and water tube. I checked compression when I got it back together and had 180 lbs. per cylinder + or - 3 lbs. Next time out, ran great for about half an hour, no alarms, then ran worse until it died, and now he's telling me that a cylinder was damaged by the overheat and caused the OMS malfunction that has led to a ruined powerhead. I've seen some seriously abused outboards in my time, I used to have to depend on them to get me to work. I did ruin a powerhead in my teens by running it until it seized but I have a hard time believing a motor that still turns over readily and was running (although badly) until it died is really ruined, especially since there were no alarms or a rod death-rattle. What tests should I run on it when I get it back to see if I'm getting the right diagnosis? Will a simple compression test be enough or is the leak down test a better indicator?

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: truthful mechanic?

$200 per cylinder to rebuild carbs? Was this guys first name Jesse, was he packing guns? Geeezz!

 

[seahorse5]

Re: truthful mechanic?

My 2000 115hp Johnson started running rough and I was able to keep it going for a while by squeezing the primer bulb, finally had to use the kicker to get back to the dock. My mechanic told me that a cylinder went bad and the VRO sensor on that cylinder caused the VRO system to stop sending any oil and the result is a ruined powerhead.

It is possible that by running the motor while squeezing the primer bulb you damaged one or more cylinders. If the pump failed internally and you kept the engine running, then it was NOT getting any oil at all while you were squeezing straight gasoline into the motor and carbs.

Like others have said, get a second opinion from a trained technician.

 

[jonesg]

Re: truthful mechanic?

$200 a pop for carb job>?
I'm in the wrong business.

I think theres more to this story....

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: truthful mechanic?

i think everyone missed a point. He has a Johnson, Evinrude had the FICHT, not Johnson that year. What is your model #?

Johnson
2000
115
BJ115PLSSB Elec. Start, TNT, 20 IN. shaft, N/A USA 2000
BJ115PXSSB Elec. Start, TNT, 25 IN. shaft, N/A USA 2000
BJ115VXSSS Elec. Start, TNT, 25 IN. shaft, wht, N/A USA 2000
J115JPLSSR Jet Drive, Elec. Start,TNT, 20 IN. shaft 2000
J115PLSSB Elec. Start, TNT, 20 IN. shaft 2000
J115PXSSB Elec. Start, TNT, 25 IN. shaft 2000
J115SPLSSC Elec. Start, TNT, 20 IN. shaft, wht, N/A USA 2000
J115VLSSS Elec. Start, 20 IN. shaft, wht 2000
J115VXSSS Elec. Start, TNT, 25 IN. shaft, wht, 2000
RJ115PLSSB Elec. Start, TNT, 20 IN. shaft, N/A USA 2000
RJ115PXSSB Elec. Start, TNT, 25 IN. shaft, N/A USA 2000
RJ115VLSSB Elec. Start, 20 IN. shaft, wht, N/A USA 2000
RJ115VXSSS Elec. Start, TNT, 25 IN. shaft, wht, N/A USA 2000
RJ90VLSSS Elec. Start, 20 IN. shaft, wht, N/A USA 2000

 

[JB]

Re: truthful mechanic?

I hate it when I reply to something someone said and they go change it, making me look like an idiot.

There is no issue about it being a FICHT engine. They have no carburetors to charge $200 each to . . . .do what??? Did the guy replace them or merely overhaul them?? $200 a pop is a really good price for new carbs but to merely service them without an approved quote/estimate is extreme.

I would like to hear the wrench's side of the story.

 

[boatpal]

Re: truthful mechanic?

I figured I got hosed on the carb job which was why I did the water pump myself. Anyway, will a simple compression test tell me if the powerhead is still any good or are other diagnostics required?

 

[wilde1j]

Re: truthful mechanic?

Sure

 

[boatpal]

Re: truthful mechanic?

I thank everyone who responded. I'm going to try to get the motor back from the mechanic tomorrow (I ordered a new one last week when he told me it was ruined) and take it the 100 miles to the next shop. If it turns out that I've been getting as badly hosed through all of this as it appears, I'm going to make his name public. The problem is he's the only one within 100 miles.

He quoted me $400 to replace the fuel pump which to me indicates that he doesn't really think the powerhead is ruined?

 

[boatpal]

Re: truthful mechanic?

Compression is good, I ordered a rebuild kit for the fuel pump and cancelled my order for a new motor.